Olivia
It was my last day with Karen.
Blake would come to pick me up around six and I couldn’t wait for him. It was not just my first vacation with Blake but it was also my first time visiting Las Vegas.
Emma was kind enough to lend her a laptop so I could browse something about the city. It was a such glamorous city. Rich people spend their money here.
“I was thinking,” Karen started after she put a cup of tea for me. “Shouldn’t you buy lingerie before meet up with Blake?”
“What?” I looked at her feeling confused. Here she goes again.
Speaking of buying something, I had bought some nice souvenirs for Blake and John. I bought it for Josh as well. And I would probably buy something again there.
“I’m going back to my parents after Blake picked you up. It’s time for me to bother them,” she joked as I laughed. Her parents never showed up during our stay here. They clearly had their own sweets time. Just the two of them.
“I had fun while I’m here, Karen. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“That should be my line. Although I did something unpleasant along our holiday which I didn’t count for,” she said.
“Forget about it, Karen. Just consider it as a lesson for you to be extra careful,” I reminded her and we laughed together.
I looked at the clock and it was five o’clock. Probably another hour and Blake would arrive. “You are very excited,” she commented while drinking her tea. “Remember to check on your panties after you arrived there because you are going to staring at him for the whole trip and probably something had happened on your—”Before she could continue, I threw the pencil to her where she dodged it easily.
This girl is so impossible!
Karen laughed so hard at me and I could only shake my head. Later, my phone rang and when I looked at it; Stewart was the one who called. Karen peeked on my phone while wrapping her arm around me.
“You should choose between the two, Liv,” she joked again.
“Oh, shut up, Karen!” She laughed at me again and return to her seat.
I picked it up once Karen had settled down on her chair. “Hello?”
“Hi, Olivia. Sorry for calling you. Am I disturbing you?”
“No. No, not all. What’s going on?”
“Um, can we meet up now? I’m going back to Los Angeles tonight and there’s something I want to talk about,” he asked.
“Yeah, sure.” I guessed it was fine since Blake hadn’t arrived yet.
“Great. I’ll see you at Starbucks then. Bye!” And he ended the call. I wonder what he wants to talk about?
I turned to Karen. “Is he asking for you?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, don’t be too long, babe. Don’t make your father waiting for you once he got here,” she reminded.
“You’re right. I should go now. Please tell him to wait for me a bit if he had arrived. And…” I paused. “Please don’t tell him that I was meeting with Stewart. He would probably…mad if he knows.”
“No problem. You better go now,” she said and I walked out of the house. Heading to Starbucks near the house.
When I arrived there, Stewart had arrived. He raised his hand and I went to him. “Hi, Liv. Thanks for coming. I bought you a Vanilla Latte. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Thank you.” I sat across him as my eyes fixed on the latte. I looked at him and he still maintained his smile and keep staring at me.
“Don’t worry, little one. There’s nothing weird in there.”
“Oh, no. It’s not like that. I just…feel bad that you have to buy it for me. How much is it?”
“No need to pay me back, Olivia. I was the one who wanted to buy this for you. My treat.” Well if he said so. I drank a bit. “How’s Karen?”
“She’s fine now. She felt really bad about what happened. She apologized the next morning although she didn’t remember everything.”
“I think it’s best if she didn’t remember or she will feel guiltier.”
“I guess so,” I replied and took another drink again. “So, what do you want to talk about?” I asked.
Stewart was looking at his cup until his brown eyes returned to me. Looking at me so seriously. “I think you already know.” Huh?
I had no idea what he wanted to talk about until his hand was on top of mine. Rubbing the top of it gently. I looked at my hand and his and then back at him.
“We’ve been knowing each other not for long but I feel like I know you for a very long time. I can’t take my eyes off you and I want you…to be by my side forever.”
My heart let out a single beat when he said that. I didn’t know what to say.
“I like you, Olivia. To me, you are kind and friendly. You put other people first before yourself. You will do anything for your friends. You support Karen. I like that side of yours. It feels like…I want to protect you. And I want to monopolize everything of you and become…mine.”
I could feel my cheeks warmed up. I never expected this.
“Will you…be my girlfriend?” Oh, freaking God!
I looked down. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Stewart asked me to be his girlfriend? I didn’t know what to do or what to say.
True, Stewart was attractive and he was kind, gentle, funny as well. On top of that, an adult. I had to admit that I was attracted to him but there was something inside that was holding me back.
In my mind, to become a couple, both parties had to fall in love with each other. And even though Stewart liked me, the problem was in me.
I liked him but…probably not in the same way as Stewart.
“Olivia?” he called as I blinked and turned my attention back to him.
“I’m…really happy that you like me but…I’m still not sure of my feeling to you.”
“I don’t mind. You can learn to love me slowly by staying with me. Get to know me more and maybe one-day …we can be a couple,” he said.
I didn’t know what to do. I never met a guy like Stewart before. I had confessions before but when I rejected them, they gave up immediately. Maybe he’s serious?
“Think about it, Olivia. I will wait for your answer. But you have to know something,” he paused and moved his face closer to me. “I will always take care of you, loving you as you should be. You won’t be sad if you choose me,” said Stewart and he smiled sweetly to me. Moving his face even closer and then…placing a kiss on my forehead.
“I’ll be waiting for your answer, Olivia.” He brought my hand up and placed a kiss on the top of it with his eyes still attached to me. “Say, can I take you to dinner tonight before I go?”
“Oh, I would love to but I’m sorry. My father is on his way to pick me up and we will go on vacation together.”
“Really? Where are you two going?”
“Las Vegas.”
“Wow. That’s a nice choice. I hope you will have fun there.”
“I will.”
“And what time he will pick you up?”
“He said around six,” I replied and Stewart looked at his watch and turned back to me.
“We still got time. I still want to spend time with you. Do you mind if we go take a walk together at the beach?”
“No.” With my answer, we stood up together and walked out of the Starbucks.
We headed to the beach where Stewart was holding my hand and we walked together. Feeling the cold wind on my skin. Mixed with warm hold from Stewart. Seeing my hand being held by him, reminded me of when Blake held my hand back at the festival.
It felt…different.
I felt protected. I felt loved.
Stewart loved me but I couldn’t feel it through his touch. And it didn’t make my heart pounded just like Blake before. Although I was happy with his feeling, I couldn’t return them. I had to say it right now.
“I like being here,” he said. Stopping me from what I was about to say. “I like being here when the sun was about to set,” he added and stopped. His eyes were fixed on the sun.
“When I was small because I was the oldest-my parents always asked me to be strong for my sister. To not show any weakness in front of her. My sister is rather weak since little. Not just physically but mentally as well. I had to show my sister that I was strong and I could be the best brother for her. And although I had made my family proud of me, deep down…I was lonely,” he told. It must be tough for enduring something for so long. I never had siblings but I understood the feeling of enduring something deep inside and it hurt.
“Since I can’t show my tears, sometimes I will go to the beach. Sitting in the sand while watching the sunset. Hoping for someone to appear and able to overcome my loneliness one day,” he continued and looked down at me. “And I think I have found her. It was you, Olivia. For the first time I saw you and talked to you, I think that you are interesting and you care about your friends. Of people. Maybe I sounded like that I wanted your attention and craving for your kindness but believe me, I don’t. If it’s not you, I don’t want it. It has to be you.”
Stewart brought my hand up and this time he kissed my palm while looking deep into my eyes. “I love you, Olivia. I’m not going to force you to accept me now. We could stay as friends and maybe when the time comes…you will accept me as your lover.”
“Stewart.” That was the only clue I needed. Maybe I shouldn’t compare him with Blake immediately. Everything took time and maybe I should give him time. To learn more about him. To get to know him more. I already knew Blake for five years and I just met Stewart like…a week ago.
Maybe after I learned almost everything about him, I could love him.
“I should take you home now. Your father had probably arrived,” he suggested.
“Yeah.” And Stewart took me back to Brad’s house while continued holding my hand.
When I arrived, I could see Blake’s Aston Martin. He’s here and I’m so excited.
I turned to Stewart. “Um, thank you for taking me home.”
“My pleasure. Let me know if you have returned to LA. Maybe we can have a date,” he said nervously. How cute.
“Sure.”
“Okay.” Stewart was looking at me for a second until he leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see you again, Olivia,” he parted with me and after I waved at him, I entered the house and heard them talking in the dining room. I headed there and found Blake was there with Karen, Brad, and Emma.
“Welcome home, babe!” Karen said. “Mr. Morgan just arrived fifteen minutes before you came.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, Blake.”
“That’s okay.” He stood up from his chair. “I have put all of your bags in the car.” I only smiled at him and turned at Karen and her cousins.
“Thank you for the lovely holiday and for allowing me to stay here.”
“Please do come again, dear. We will wait for you,” Emma said.
“Enjoy your holiday, Liv. And don’t forget to take a lot of pictures and send them to me,” Karen asked.
“I will.”
Blake and I excused ourselves from them and walked out of the house. I entered his car as Blake immediately ignited the car. He began to drive as I waved my hands to the three of them.
“If you want to sleep, you are welcome to do so,” Blake suggested.
“I’m okay. If I sleep now, I will not be able to sleep tonight.”
Blake chuckled. “I guess so. Well, you don’t need to worry about me. I just had my coffee to open my eyes.” This time I giggled over his information. At least he won’t fall asleep along the way.
And we were on our way to Las Vegas.
I wondered what was waiting for me there. Whatever that would be…
I was so excited.